Even as some Black Bush Polder residents once again burning tyres in anger and frustration over continued flooding, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha announced on Friday that two brand new pumps will be added to boost efforts to drain the area.
On Wednesday, Mustapha visited the entire Black Bush Polder with Prime Minister Mark Phillips. However, yesterday Mustapha returned with Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat and they met with residents and farmers who were affected by the flooding for over two weeks.
Mustapha explained that since his visit on Wednesday the interventions made are continuing. “We have the machines in the four polders. We have machines going on the crown dam because the water overtopping there on the crown down. We bought a new pump that we putting at Eversham and tomorrow I will install a new pump at [Number] 43 and I am very optimistic that if the weather holds that we will have a lot of relief in Black Bush Polder.”
However, questioned about the pump located at Adventure, which was reportedly out of operation for over an entire day, the minister responded, “The Adventure pump was working and it developed some mechanical problem. As I am speaking now the mechanic was working there and he said that in another hour or two that the pump should be operable there and that will help boost the system here in the Lesbeholden area.”
Minister Mustapha further stressed he has also made a quantity of polyethylene drainage tubes available to the various polders, “They are here, they are being stored at the Water Users office and by tomorrow and the next day they will be installed at different points of the polders to control the flow of water within the community.
Initially, residents had reported that Lesbeholden was the least affected area in Black Bush Polder but a tube which leads from Mibicuri to Lesbeholden was opened and some amount of water flowed through causing the flood to increase in that area. As a result, the NDC took the decision to close the tube after they noticed the water rising in Lesbeholden.
This action angered the Mibicuri residents who then burnt tires along the roadway in their efforts to block the Regional Vice Chairman, Zamal Hussain, who was present in the area checking on works, from leaving, as they demanded that the tube be re-opened for water to be pumped out of Lesbeholden.
In turn, the residents of Lesbeholden complained to Minister Mustapha about that situation yesterday. “Now all me kitchen and everything flood. All we garden and everything done,” one woman bemoaned.
While at Mibicuri, a group of intoxicated residents attempted to stand in front of the officials’ vehicles in an attempt to block them from leaving, and in Johanna some residents attempted to stand in front of the truck packed with hampers from leaving the community.
Commander of Region Six, Jairam Ramlakhan, yesterday told Stabroek News, that some persons lit two fires in the area yesterday morning but police arrived promptly at the locations and doused the flames.
Police subsequently said that at 10.40 am, acting on information received, they went to Yakusari Public Road, Black Bush Polder, where a a large crowd was gathered and two tractor tyres were burning on the middle of the road. The fire was extinguished by the ranks. No arrests were made.
Those arrested on Thursday were let go yesterday on their own recognizance.
At Yakusari, one of the polders mostly affected by the flooding, residents yesterday expressed their gratitude for the hampers received and pleaded with authorities to continue pumping the water from the area.
Ravendra Jailall, 47, a rice farmer who plants at the Yakusari backlands, said, “About 100 acre land deh under water deh, na lil bit.” He added, “They need to ease up that koker and let the pump continue work but sometime them na do that.”
Mustapha has since made a decision that a delegation should be formed in each polder to monitor the situation, machines, and kokers.
Residents of Yakusari also reported that they were fearful for their young children who could possibly be harmed by the high water.
Comprehensive study
Stephen Wallace, 58, of Yakusari, related that this was the first time in over 20 years that he has experienced such a flood. “The water is still a bit high but we are hoping that it will recede quickly.”
The man said that so far he has lost his beans garden while his cattle “a punish.”
“I am grateful and thankful to the government for this hamper but I do trust god that things will be better in the polder,” he added
Questioned about what he thinks can be done to improve the situation, the man opined that a high-level team from the government and region needs to carry out a comprehensive study on how to deal with issues affecting Black Bush Polder. “I believe that they need to do a comprehensive study because these are the things that we go through.”
Notably, overall, residents and farmers have reported that there was a small decrease in the flood waters throughout the polders.
Minister Mustapha also explained yesterday that with the heavy rainfall and the overtopping of the Canje Creek and other areas, the flooding situation continues to present itself throughout the region and other areas of the country.
The minister said that after reports of flooding other sections of the region, interventions had to be made. “In Port Mourant I had to have GuySuCo go there and send a machine and we are putting a new pump there. At Whim we have installed a new pump there too to help the Whim, Auchlyne, Liverpool area, and we have a pump now as I am speaking going to Letter Kenny/Bloomfield to drain that water.”
Furthermore, as of yesterday afternoon there were reports of flooding in the Albion area prompting Mustapha to make a machine available to work in that area from today.
As of yesterday there were also reports that villages within the Upper East Bank Berbice and New Forest, East Canje Berbice, were flooded.
To alleviate some of the suffering, hampers were distributed to over 450 households in Yakusari and Johanna yesterday, while today, hampers will be handed out in Mibicuri and Lesbeholden and also to those who were not able to receive from the other areas yesterday.
At the various polders persons who spoke with Stabroek News indicated that they would have each suffered over $200,000 in losses with others suffering even more. At Mibicuri the residents told Minister Mustapha that they were looking for monetary support from the government.
The minister reiterated that the agencies attached to his ministry are currently conducting an assessment after which “we will look at the assessment to see what kind of help we can extend to the farmers who would have suffered losses.”
